danesdad wrote:I've always believed (and still do) that hunting is ten percent skill and ninety percent location. I believe that you can take the worst hunters among us (maybe including myself) and put them on the locations of these hunts you see on TV and if the hunter can sit still long enough, he'll get the same opportunities as the "pros" get. You see, it doesn't matter if they are hunting high fence or not, they are still in places that regular Joes like me will NEVER get a chance to hunt. Lee and Tiffany have private farms and ranches in Iowa or Kansas? How could they NOT look like professionals??? What would they look like hunting in the kinds of places where I have to hunt here in PA? I'll bet my morgage that if they had to hunt where I have to hunt, they'd never kill a buck that scored even ten percent higher than anything I've ever killed. It's all about location.

Can't argue with that. But, for me, I'd actually rather kill a monster spike on public land, 2 miles in, full well knowing I did it on my own, on my terms. For me, it's all about the journey.

danesdad wrote:I've always believed (and still do) that hunting is ten percent skill and ninety percent location. I believe that you can take the worst hunters among us (maybe including myself) and put them on the locations of these hunts you see on TV and if the hunter can sit still long enough, he'll get the same opportunities as the "pros" get. You see, it doesn't matter if they are hunting high fence or not, they are still in places that regular Joes like me will NEVER get a chance to hunt. Lee and Tiffany have private farms and ranches in Iowa or Kansas? How could they NOT look like professionals??? What would they look like hunting in the kinds of places where I have to hunt here in PA? I'll bet my morgage that if they had to hunt where I have to hunt, they'd never kill a buck that scored even ten percent higher than anything I've ever killed. It's all about location.

Can't argue with that. But, for me, I'd actually rather kill a monster spike on public land, 2 miles in, full well knowing I did it on my own, on my terms. For me, it's all about the journey.

Even private land won't always produce big bucks, if it not managed properly. Don't discount the effort many private land hunters put in during the "off season". As I said, in a different post, I rifle hunt unmanaged private land in Buffalo County WI, and we seldom see big bucks. I bow hunt managed land, that my brother and I do all the work on, six miles away, and we see big bucks every year. It may be a different kind of satisfaction and a different journey than a DIY hunt on public land, but taking that 5-6 yr old buck after working hard all year every year, and letting them walk when they are younger, is a satisfaction I for one won't apologize for.

Respect - don't take it, unless you are willing to give it.Responsibility - don't give it, unless you are willing to take it.

danesdad wrote:I've always believed (and still do) that hunting is ten percent skill and ninety percent location. I believe that you can take the worst hunters among us (maybe including myself) and put them on the locations of these hunts you see on TV and if the hunter can sit still long enough, he'll get the same opportunities as the "pros" get. You see, it doesn't matter if they are hunting high fence or not, they are still in places that regular Joes like me will NEVER get a chance to hunt. Lee and Tiffany have private farms and ranches in Iowa or Kansas? How could they NOT look like professionals??? What would they look like hunting in the kinds of places where I have to hunt here in PA? I'll bet my morgage that if they had to hunt where I have to hunt, they'd never kill a buck that scored even ten percent higher than anything I've ever killed. It's all about location.

Can't argue with that. But, for me, I'd actually rather kill a monster spike on public land, 2 miles in, full well knowing I did it on my own, on my terms. For me, it's all about the journey.

Even private land won't always produce big bucks, if it not managed properly. Don't discount the effort many private land hunters put in during the "off season". As I said, in a different post, I rifle hunt unmanaged private land in Buffalo County WI, and we seldom see big bucks. I bow hunt managed land, that my brother and I do all the work on, six miles away, and we see big bucks every year. It may be a different kind of satisfaction and a different journey than a DIY hunt on public land, but taking that 5-6 yr old buck after working hard all year every year, and letting them walk when they are younger, is a satisfaction I for one won't apologize for.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I began managing 80 acres in southeast Minnesota 4 years ago, and the results are pretty amazing now. I've shot a 135" and 128" the last 2 years, and I have even bigger bucks starting to show up on camera this year. Obviously I can't hold the deer on my property but I can make them want to spend more of their time on it! It's a lot of hard work, and a lot of added cost, but it's worth it to me.

Obviously my setup pales in comparison to what some of the TV celebs have at their disposal, but I'm not sure why there is this pervasive need to belittle what Lee and Tiffany or any of the other pros are doing. Let's be honest -- the majority of us envy anyone who owns thousands of acres, and would gladly take their place if we could afford it. They can afford it because they worked their butts off in the past to acquire money, sponsors, etc. I say, more power to them! I wish I had 2,000 acres and a wife that wanted to hunt for a living! I still hear grumbling from locals that all these "city folk" are buying land they used to hunt. Well, the land we bought was up for public auction, and my Dad bought it with his hard earned money, and we pay taxes on it every year.

We need to be united as hunters, and we should applaud those that manage amazing ranches through hard work just as we should applaud those that work their tails off hunting public land to shoot a 100" buck! The important thing is to have fun and find satisfaction in YOUR trophy.

mnmaverick wrote:We need to be united as hunters, and we should applaud those that manage amazing ranches through hard work just as we should applaud those that work their tails off hunting public land to shoot a 100" buck! The important thing is to have fun and find satisfaction in YOUR trophy.

I believe they are staged I dont think any of these guys are any better hunters then most of us. It always seems to be the last min of the last day and WOW wouldnt you know it the buck they have been hunting for all week shows up and stands right where they needed them too. They wouldnt draw in many fans to watch their show if all they had was guys shooting does and small bucks. But hunters like to see guys kill the giants they dream of killing.

Now dont get me wrong I dont think all are on high fence farms but I believe these guys go to outfitters that do all the work then they go sit in the stand and wait for the buck the Outfitter had patterned to come in. It makes for great TV but I dont think these guys are better hunters then you or I, just more money to make the hunts happen.

Perfectly Said Woods. I hate how they jump around in the tree pumping their fist for the camera dont get me wrong I have fist pumped after making a good shot on a deer but not to the extent they guys go to. I think that is over done and doesnt belong in the hunt.

I actually don't think they are all the same. Try watching Midwest Whitetail with Bill Winke or Heartland Bowhunter. Much more "real" experiences and much less fist-pumping, although they still shoot big bucks with outfitters. What I like, particularly about Midwest Whitetail, are that they focus on techniques and tips more than showing kills. Winke's websites are my favorites: http://www.midwestwhitetail.com/ and http://www.midwestwhitetailproperties.com/